Chants and healing rituals of the Paiwan shamans in Taiwan
The female shamans of the Austronesian Paiwan perform in a wide spectrum of individual and communal rituals. The Paiwan shamans are characterized by chanting (marada) while in a state of ecstasy. Chanting makes it possible for a shaman to meet ancestral spirits and to be possessed by them, so that s...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
2010
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| In: |
Shaman
Year: 2010, Volume: 18, Issue: 1/2, Pages: 43-54 |
| Further subjects: | B
Ecstasy
B Swine; Religious aspects B Healing, Spiritual B Shamanism B Taiwan B Religion B Ritual B Sacrifice B Chants B Paiwan (Taiwan people) |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
| Summary: | The female shamans of the Austronesian Paiwan perform in a wide spectrum of individual and communal rituals. The Paiwan shamans are characterized by chanting (marada) while in a state of ecstasy. Chanting makes it possible for a shaman to meet ancestral spirits and to be possessed by them, so that she utters their words. The chants of Paiwan shamans from the southern Taiwanese village Kulalao consist of a basic structure as well as a fixed and ancient oral text. Shamans chant in more advanced and important rituals which are often combined with the killing and offering of pigs. The various stages of Paiwan Kulalao healing rituals, for example, reveal the causes of illness, exchanges between human beings and the spirits, and the essence and power of chants. Due to the strong effect of the Paiwan shamans’ ritual chants on enhancing spiritual power to overcome illness and other evil influences for the individual and the village, Paiwan leaders of the noble class rely on shamans to maintain their authority and strive to maintain the tradition of shamans and their ritual chants. |
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| Contains: | Enthalten in: Shaman
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